Hermaphroditic electrical connectors

ABSTRACT

An elongated semicylindrical or plate insulating member has disposed along it in two different positions along the length contacts comprising a male and a female plug connector so that two similar members can be slid together longitudinally along mating surface portions to contact and register the plug connectors. Locking means is provided to hold the connectors in place. The male contact is protected from damage by an enveloping hood and the protruding insulating member portion has a female contact so that the contact surfaces are not easily touched or damaged.

United States Patent Inventor Delbert R. Wofford Owensboro, Ky. Appl No798,738 Filed Feb. 12. 1969 Patented July 20, 1971 Assignec Texas GasTransmission Corporation Owensboro, Ky.

HERMAPHRODlTlC ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[1.8. CI 339/49, 339/45, 339/182 Int. Cl ..H0lrl3/62, HOlr 25/00 Fieldof Search 339/47- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,838,7396/1958 Winkler 339/47 2,963,677 12/1960 Kallenbom .7 339/48 X 3,080,5443/l963 Stott et a]. 339/48 2,469,397 5/1949 Mezekv 339/l98 G FOREIGNPATENTS 483,151 9/l929 Germany 339/48 Primary ExaminerStephen J NovosadAssistant ExaminerTerrell P Lewis Attorney-Laurence R. Brown ABSTRACT:An elongated semicylindrical or plate insulating member has disposedalong it in two different positions along the length contacts comprisinga male and a female plug connector so that two similar members can beslid together longitudinally along mating surface portions to contactand register the plug connectors. Locking means is provided'to hold theconnectors in place. The male contact is protected from damage by anenveloping hood and the protruding insulating member portion has afemale contact so that the contact surfaces are not easily touched ordamaged.

PATENTEB M20871 594 695 [NVENTOR DELBERT R. WOFFORD ATTORNEYHERMAPHRODITIC ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS This invention relates toelectrical connectors, and more particularly it relates tohermaphroditic plugs for connecting two or more wires.

In the prior art construction of plug connectors several deficienciesexist. In many configurations plugs are not easily registered or simplyconnected. The terminal connector surfaces may also be exposed in such amanner to become bent, corroded or contacted when connected to a powersource, thereby contributing to the problem of mating or registering thecontact surfaces with an optimum conductive connection.

When two cables or units are connected together by a plug member it isdifiicult to provide simplified locking structure for retaining themembers in mated contact and permitting manual release, particularlywhere plugs are confined in limited space. The ability to make manyside-by-side connections is also restricted by many plug designs.

A single universal hermaphroditic plug structure is desired to providefor connections at both contacting surfaces with a plug of similarconstruction, thus reducing costs of tools and spare part maintenance.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide improvedconnectors solving these deficiencies of prior art devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide plugs simple to construct,low in cost and adaptable for making a multiplicity of connections.

It is an object of the invention to provide connectors easily mated, yetwith structure protecting contactor surfaces from damage and access.

Further features, objects and details of the connectors afforded. bythis invention are to be found throughout the following description ofthe preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing. Theimproved and simplified connector structure has two or more contactsdisposed at different linear positions at one or more levels along anelongated insulating member body presenting a flat registration surfacedisposed longitudinally parallel to the axis of the elongated member.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. I is a partial perspective view looking into theconnection end of a connector constructed in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a broken away view in section of a modified connectorstructure taken along the axis plane 2-2 of FIG. 1 passing through thecontact structure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified connector embodiment; 5 andFIG. 4 is a partial view in elevation as referred to the embodiment ofFIG. 3 of a manual locking lever afforded by the invention. lt may beseen from H08. 1 and 2 that the plug comprises an elongated insulatingmember 8 disposed along axis 2-2 to present a longitudinally extendingflat surface 9 generally parallel with the axis. The insulating membermay be semicylindrical in shape to form the core within a cylindricalprotective insulating hood portion 10, which serves as a receptacleguide to receive and register a mating member 8 of a similar connectorwith the flat surfaces 9 in face-to-face contact.

Two connector contact members ll, 12 are disposed lon gitudinally alongthe insulating member with such metallic electrically conductingsurfaces present to mate with similar surfaces on an identical plugconnector andform connections between at least two wires l4, 15extending from the respective contact members. As shown, these contactmembers have their connector and surfaces disposed at different levelswith respect to the flat surface 9. Thus male member 12 protrudes fromthe surface 9 and female member 11 in indented into the surface 9. Malemember 9 comprises, for example, a flat plate with a tab 16 forconnecting a wire lead, and female member 11 may comprise a U-shapedleaf spring receptacle plug with connector tab 17.

By indenting female plug 11 in the end of the insulating member 8, it isprotected from inadvertent electrical contact in the event the cable isconnected to a power source and is not easily bent or subject tocontamination by corrosion or handling. Preferably in a two-wire plug,this is the ground connector and the hot wire connector is male plugmember 12, which is protected by hood 10 from being bent or touched.

In the version shown in FIG. 2, the male plug member 12 is pushed awayfrom surface 9 by spring 20 shown as a coil spring here, but which couldcomprise a suitable leaf spring. This structure cooperates with therecessed cavity 21 disposed away from the end 22 of insulating member 8to form a closed rim 23 for locking two connectors together in matedposition. If the end is open as shown in FIG. I, the members may be moreeasily registered and slid together, but might require other means forlocking them together.

The insulating member 8 may be in the form of thin flat wafer plates 8',8" etc. shown in FIG. 3 to permit side-by-side mounting in sandwich formwhen a large number of connections are desired in a small space.Apertures 30 may be provided for fastening the plates together. Furtherapertures 31 and 32 are defined for registration locking pins and aretained plug 33 may be provided for pushing away the end ofa matingconnector while disconnecting.

FIG. 4 shows a manually operable lever 34 that can be used with eachwafer plate 8', 8" etc. for locking two of them in mating position andfor disconnecting them. Two levers 34 at opposite corners of two matingwafter plates 8' would need be operated to release or unlock the matedconnectors. This lever 34 is pivoted about pin 35 against the force of abias member such as leaf spring 36 when tab 37 is forced away from theconnector insulating member arm surface 38. This retracts pin 39 fromthe mating aperture 32 of a mated insulating connector body 8A in thefirst portion of the motion and thereafter forces cam member 40against'retained pin 33 to push it against the end (not shown) of body8A to force it away from the mated position.

From the description of these embodiments it may be seen that severalnovel features are presented. The alignment of the contacts H and 12axially along the two longitudinal members of hermaphroditic designpermits a construction of high strength and durability with compactdimensions and protection from connector damage or shock. The recessedfemale contact design 11 and retractable male contact design l220 permitthe members to be locked together simply. Coded ridges, grooves orcurved mating surfaces may be employed if desired fully equivalent tothe flat mating surfaces described, and equivalent hoods 10, contacts111, 12 and insulation members 8 of different shape can be visualized inconnectors provided by this invention with contacts disposed atlongitudinally spaced positions in one or more levels along a linearholder member for mating hermaphroditically.

ln the claims:

l. A hermaphroditic connector with a cable at an inner end and a plugportion at the outer end comprising in combination, an insulating memberhaving a generally flat surface disposed along an elongated linear axissupporting at least two electrical contact members disposedlongitudinally at different positions along its axial length in suchpositions and having such mating structure that two similar connectorsregister in mating position with the insulating members coming togetherin axial sliding contact of the two flat surfaces and with the contactmembers physically touching to make electrical connection between thetwo connectors said flat surface having at the terminal axial endthereof up axial open endedslot defined therein, wherein one contactmember comprises a male member protruding from said flat surface andanother contact member comprises a recessed female member with thefemale contact member disposed at the outer end of said elongatedlinearaxis of said insulating member surface in said open ended slot in saidflat surface registered in a position to receive the male member of asimilar connector in a longitudinal axial sliding motion of the two flatsurfaces of the two insulating members against each other.

2. A connector as defined in claim I wherein said insulating member isof semicylindrical construction surrounded at the inner end by acylindrical protective insulating hood which receives and surrounds theouter plug end ofa similar connector, wherein the male member is locatedinside said hood.

3. A connector as defined in claim 1 including a protective hoodstationarily fixed about only the male member and shaped as a receptaclewith structure to receive in axial sliding registration thereinto onlythat the end portion of the insulating member of a further similarconnection containing the open ended slot with the female contacttherein.

4. A hermaphroditic connector comprising in combination, an insulatingmember having a generally flat surface disposed along an elongatedlinear axis supporting at least two electrical contact members atdifferent positions along its length in such positions and having suchmating structure that two similar connectors register in mating positionwith the contact members physically touching to make electricalconnection between the two connectors wherein at least two apertures areprovided through said insulating member positioned to registerrespectively with corresponding apertures in a mating plug member and analongside wafer plate, a movable locking pin that extends through onesaid aperture in said insulating member of one connector to engage amating aperture of an adjacent connector in locking position to hold theadjacent connectors in fixed relative position when two similar suchconnectors are positioned alongside each other.

5. A connector as defined in claim 4 including biasing means for holdingsaid locking pin normally in a position extending from a surface of theinsulating member which mates with a similar connector when twoconnectors are mated in registration.

6. A connector as defined in claim 4 wherein a manual lever member iscoupled with said locking pin to permit selective movement of the pininto registration with the second said aperture in a similar matingconnector.

7. A connector as defined in claim 6 including a cam operated member onsaid manual lever member serving to force two mated connectors apart intheir axial direction.

1. A hermaphroditic connector with a cable at an inner end and a plugportion at the outer end comprising in combination, an insulating memberhaving a generally flat surface disposed along an elongated linear axissupporting at least two electrical contact members disposedlongitudinally at different positions along its axial length in suchpositions and having such mating structure that two similar connectorsregister in mating position with the insulating members coming togetherin axial sliding contact of the two flat surfaces and with the contactmembers physically touching to make electrical connection between thetwo connectors said flat surface having at the terminal axial endthereof an axial open ended slot defined therein, wherein one contactmember comprises a male member protruding from said flat surface andanother contact member comprises a recessed female member with thefemale contact member disposed at the outer end of said elongated linearaxis of said insulating member surface in said open ended slot in saidflat surface registered in a position to receive the male member of asimilar connector in a longitudinal axial sliding motion of the two flatsurfaces of the two insulating members against each other.
 2. Aconnector as defined in claim 1 wherein said insulating member is ofsemicylindrical construction surrounded at the inner end by acylindrical protective insulating hood which receives and surrounds theouter plug end of a similar connector, wherein the male member islocated inside said hood.
 3. A connector as defined in claim 1 includinga protective hood stationarily fixed about only the male member andshaped as a receptacle with structure to receive in axial slidingregistration thereinto only that the end portion of the insulatingmember of a further similar connection containing the open ended slotwith the female contact therein.
 4. A hermaphroditic connectorcomprising in combination, an insulating member having a generally flatsurface disposed along an elongated linear axis supporting at least twoelectrical contact members at different positions along its length insuch positions and having such mating structure that two similarconnectors register in mating position with the contact membersphysically touching to make electrical connection between the twoconnectors wherein at least two apertures are provided through saidinsulating member positioned to register respectively with correspondingapertures in a mating plug member and an alongside wafer plate, amovable locking pin that extends through one said aperture in saidinsulating member of one connector to engage a mating aperture of anadjacent connector in locking position to hold the adjacent connectorsin fixed relative position when two similar such connectors arepositioned alongside each other.
 5. A connector as defined in claim 4including biasing means for holding said locking pin normally in aposition extending from a surface of the insulating member which mateswith a similar connector when two connectors are mated in registration.6. A connector as defined in claim 4 wherein a manual lever member iscoupled with said locking pin to permit selective movement of the pininto registration with the second said aperture in a similar matingconnector.
 7. A connector as defined in claim 6 including a cam operatedmember on said manual lever member serving to force two mated connectorsapart in their axial direction.